Home Ingredients

What is Tahini?

Maureen Abood

Mar 06, 2012, Updated Feb 26, 2025

FacebookPinEmail

Discover tahini, including what this pantry staple is and how to use it in your cooking.

Want to save this recipe?

Type your email below and I’ll send it to you! As a bonus, you’ll receive recipes, shop specials, and more.

Email *

Save Recipe

Tahini is a versatile ingredient that plays a key role in Lebanese and many other Middle Eastern cuisines. Made from ground sesame seeds, it is often compared to nut butters, although its unique nutty flavor and creamy texture do set it apart. 

Whether you’re dressing a salad or creating a luscious dip, tahini is a staple ingredient that deserves a prominent place in your kitchen! This rich sesame paste is typically enjoyed in various dishes, from hummus recipes to baba ghanoush, and offers an easy way to add depth and creaminess to both savory and sweet recipes.

How to Select Tahini

When it comes to selecting the best tahini, quality and flavor paramount. You can find tahini at grocery stores, health food stores, or in the international aisle of many markets. Brands that use raw sesame seeds or unhulled sesame seeds for a richer flavor and better nutritional profile. Good tahini should have a smooth paste without excessive oil separation. The sesame oil separates from the paste naturally oftentimes. Shake the jar vigorously and regularly, along with a good stir, to prevent a heavy layer of tahini paste from settling on the bottom of the jar, making it difficult to fully incorporate.

What Does Tahini Taste Like?

Great flavor is another factor in choosing tahini. Not all tahini are created equal! My sister says she doesn’t like tahini, but I think that’s just because she tasted a bitter tahini once and wouldn’t try again. Some tahini is so balanced it’s known as “sweet” tahini, even though it contains no sweeteners.

Tahini has a unique and rich nutty flavor that enhances a variety of dishes. Its creamy texture makes it an ideal ingredient for sauces, dips, and dressings, adding a comforting mouthfeel to both savory dishes and sweet treats. The flavor can vary depending on the type of sesame seeds used; unhulled seeds tend to impart a slightly bitter flavor, while hulled seeds provide a milder taste. Tahini made with roasted sesame seeds is darker and can be a touch more bitter.

If you’re new to tahini, start by trying it in classic recipes like hummus or tahini sauce. Its ability to blend well with lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh herbs allows you to customize the taste according to your personal preference.

My favorite brands of tahini are Soom, Lebanon Valley Tahini Extra, Al Kanater, and Seed & Mill.

How to make it

A great jar of tahini is so easy to find in the grocery store, and there are such delicious brands available, that making it yourself is less of a selling point. To get a very smooth homemade result, use a high speed blender such as a Vitamix, which is a great blender to have in your equipment repertoire for its ability to go after any ingredients and make a smooth result. Commercial tahini can be blended in massive quantities, which enhances the smoothness. Homemade tahini is made in small quantities, so it will work best to add a little olive oil to the sesame seeds to blend a simple ground sesame paste. General rule of thumb is to blend or process at least a full cup of sesame seeds with about a tablespoon of olive oil, avocado oil, or any neutral oil you prefer.

Tahini Recipes You’ll Love

Using it in your cooking opens up a world of delicious possibilities. Here are some of my favorite recipes that showcase tahini as a main ingredient:

1. Homemade Hummus Recipe: This blend is a dip nobody can resist for its flavor, texture, and health benefits. Serve with pita, veggies, or spread it on sandwiches and wraps.
2. Baba Ghanoush: Smoky eggplant dip uses tahini as a key ingredient. Roasting the eggplant brings out its natural sweetness, which complements tahini’s rich sesame flavor.
3. Tahini Sauce Recipe: Make a versatile sauce that absolutely divine as a dip for chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, chicken shish tawook, beef kafta, roasted vegetables, and more. 
4. Nutty Tahini Dressing: Create a salad dressing that is an easy homemade go-to. This creamy favorite is perfect for drizzling over greens or as a dressing for grain bowls.
5. Sweet Recipes: Tahini isn’t just for savory dishes! Try it in my chocolate tahini breakfast rolls or desserts by mixing it with chocolate or using it as a base for energy bites. It adds a rich flavor that enhances sweet treats.

Storage

To ensure longevity, store it in an airtight container after opening. It’s best to keep it in a cool place, ideally at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, it has a shelf life of several months and often well past the best-by date on the jar. But make sure to check for any off smell or flavors. In the case of oil separation, just give it a good shake or stir. If you’ve made your own, keep it in the fridge, where it will stay fresh for up to a month.